Drug Addiction Treatment: Your Way to Sobriety

Drug Addiction Symptoms

Figuring out the signs and symptoms of drug addiction, especially in the beginning, is imperative to getting people the help and treatment they need before the effects become devastating.

Here are the symptoms of drug addiction to look out for –

•        Slurred speech
•        Irritability and argumentativeness
•        Loss of interest in daily chores, friends or family
•        Missing school, work, or other important daily responsibilities
•        Feeling that you need to consume the drug every day or several times a day
•      When the urge to consume comes, it blocks out all other thoughts that could be related to personal or professional life
•    Developing tolerance or Having to consume increased dosages to get the same high
•        Consuming drugs for longer periods than the original plan
•        Always ensuring that you don’t run out of supply
•        Consorting to the Beg-Borrow-Steal triage to score drugs
•        Indulging in risky behaviours like driving under the influence
•        Experience agitation and anxiety when not using the drug
•        Feeling sick whenever you stop consuming the said drug
•        Social withdrawal, Isolation, or Secretiveness
•        Acting inappropriately, obnoxiously, and childishly
•        Offering strange excuses, justifications, and rationalizations for their behavior
•        Hyperactive, agitated, and unusually energetic
•        Increased interpersonal strife
•        Financial problems or a sudden surge in expenses

Few physical symptoms of drug addiction include:

•        Dryness in the mouth
•        Dilated or constricted pupils and red eyes
•        Elevated blood pressure and arrhythmia
•        Delayed response rate
•        Increased food cravings after drug consumption
•        Weight loss and appetite changes
•        Changes in sleeping patterns

Long-term (chronic) use of drugs and alcohol is often associated with decreased mental sharpness, poor performance at school or work, low social life, and reduced number of friends and interests.

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Who Is Most At Risk Of Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction and its symptoms don’t discriminate. Men, women, young and old across the socioeconomic spectrum can fall prey to this condition. However, certain risk factors can increase the chances of drug addiction. If you or a loved one has any of the risk factors listed below then you have to contact a drug addiction treatment center, immediately.

Genetics: Studies have found that there is some kind of genetic component that leads to drug addiction. It’s found that individuals with at least one close relative, with an addiction problem, are at high risk of developing an addiction problem themselves. A drug and alcohol addiction treatment center will help you resolve your addiction problems in a safe and controlled manner.

Environment: This refers to the community that surrounds you, which can include your family and loved ones. If the people who raised you or are living with you are involved with substance abuse, then it’s highly likely that you may have an increased risk of falling into the same pattern. Treatment and rehabilitation centers for drug abuse and addiction can help with rapid recovery and minimize the trigger patterns caused by the external environment.

Comorbidity: People who suffer from severe mental health disorders like bipolar disorder and clinical depression can succumb to drug abuse and addiction. Mental health problems can cause patients to spiral and self-medicate; this may worsen their condition and make them dependent on the medicine. This is where the medical professionals at drug addiction and treatment centers will help patients recover from addiction.

Diagnosis of Drug Addiction

Medically diagnosing a drug abuse & addiction problem is complicated. However, the first and the most important step is for the user to understand that they have a problem and that they are willing and motivated to overcome that. A well-rounded diagnostic procedure ensures that all aspects of drug addiction treatment can be successfully managed. Early diagnosis of drug abuse is essential. When drug addiction is diagnosed in the early stages, it is easier to have a successful recovery.

Diagnostic Procedure

At Cadabams, our multi-facilitated team is involved in the diagnosis of substance abuse.

Experienced addiction psychiatrists, addiction counsellors, and addiction therapists work together using clinically-approved assessments to determine the symptoms, severity, causes of drug addiction.

Psychometric Assessments and Diagnosis

Our team of experts follows a clinically proven and structured process of psychometric and clinically-verified tests before confirming the diagnosis. The main focus of our diagnostic procedure is to evaluate the various factors that cause and perpetrate the addiction. This detailed diagnostic process allows for customized treatment plans based on the individual’s needs.

How to Stop Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction makes it harder to understand the gap between what’s acceptable and what’s going too far. It can sneak up on you and can leave you in potentially dangerous conditions. So, it is very important to be aware of the warning indications and take steps to cut back once you recognize them. Understanding the problem is the first step to overcoming it.

Seeking help for your loved ones in cases of drug addiction might be a challenging task. Most often, many drug addicts choose the recovery path just because their loved one has identified their problem and has forced them to get into drug addiction treatment. Unless the patient is convinced of the drug problem and accepts the need for help, it becomes very difficult to convince them to get treatment.

Do you know how your effort can play a great role in paving a way to make your loved one come out of drug addiction? Here are a few ways you can contribute to the well-being of your loved person that can help them come out the drug addiction –

Intervene with a humble approach – Planning an intervention would be one of the first and foremost steps when it comes to helping your loved one seek drug addiction treatment. Approach them in a caring and flexible way rather than being non-persuasive and confrontational. Give them a real-world picture of how they are being affected by the addiction in a non-accusing manner.

Help them to speak up about their problem – Oftentimes, the drug addict knows they need help but may be unable to find the resources or support to seek drug addiction therapy. Help them recognize that the only approach to deal with this form of illness is through sobriety or abstinence. To achieve this, support will be needed and that is where you can help.

Accept the challenge – You need to accept the situation and remain to be supportive of your loved one. The patient can be hostile and defensive. Do not ever let yourself or your loved one give up the path of recovery from drug addiction because changes might seem hard, but it is not an impossible goal.

Express your concern and give them the help – Start with expressing your commitment and deep concern to support and help them in taking positive action. Recovery might seem to be a great setback while withdrawing from drug addiction, but it is never impossible!

Help them commit – Encourage them to make a strong commitment to deal with the changes that happen in the journey of drug addiction recovery. They may feel depressed and anxious, or even ashamed once they realize the extent of the damage of their past actions. However, this is a crucial time to extend your support and prevention of drug addiction.

Getting Treatment for Drug Addiction

Treatment of drug addiction is decided depending on the substance addiction and intensity of addiction which often varies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to family counseling to medication. Most substance abuse counselors use group therapy as group-level intervention helps an individual get motivated and inspired by peers with similar disorders.

After detoxification, patients go through therapies available for recovering addicts to help them stay sober. As recovery is a lifelong process, it is important to pursue ongoing treatments that provide support and accountability. Individual therapies are given based on an individual’s health and substance abuse patterns.

Substance Abuse Counsellor helps the client recover from the addiction by having the substance in a controlled manner and later reducing it to minimal or by helping them to stop completely, based on the substance. For substances that require immediate halt, drug addiction psychiatrist provide medication management and psychologists offer other therapeutic assistance, which are crucial to manage the withdrawal effects (unpleasant physiological responses that follow when the substance is not taken for long periods of time).  There are different types of treatment available.

When a person is diagnosed with an addiction, there are various types of treatment available for recovery which involves the person getting rid of withdrawal symptoms. The goal of drug addiction treatment is not only stopping drug abuse but also helping people to function productively in the family, workplace, and community. Research suggests that individuals, who have undergone effective treatment for a long time stop using drugs and maintain better occupational, social, and psychological functioning.

‍Drug Detoxification

Drug detoxification, or detox, is the first step of drug therapy and the road to recovery. Detox can prevent unpleasant consequences or the withdrawal symptoms resulting from sudden cessation of drug use and helps them to be independent of drug use. The several types of detox method are –

1.      Cold-turkey detox
2.      Short-term medicated detox
3.      Long-term medicated detox

Counseling and Psychotherapy

Drug rehabilitation includes a variety of counseling and psychotherapy programs, each designed to work together while providing individual benefits.

Group Counselling or support groups provide each patient with an opportunity to connect with peers, all struggling with drug addiction and working for long-term recovery from addiction, to recognize common challenges and work together to find realistic ways to overcome these triggers. This form of counseling will help each patient be stronger, socially, when the opportunity to relapse presents itself. Group therapies help individuals motivate and support each other to attain long-term sobriety with the help of expert addiction counsellors.

One-on-One Counselling is more personal counseling. Each patient has his or her unique challenges and triggers. Often, drug addiction comes from an underlying disorder (such as depression or anxiety), and to be strong enough to recover from addiction, one must also treat any underlying disorders. Facing these obstacles will help each individual become a stronger person, mentally, and to be prepared for the battle of recovery from drug addiction.

Family Counselling will help educate both the patient and loved ones (friends or family members) of the patient about drug addiction. This form of counseling is very beneficial to the relationships that matter, as ongoing support is important for recovery from alcohol addiction. Family counseling ultimately strengthens the relationships that have been affected by addiction. Our expert addiction psychiatry team addresses any conflicts in the family and promotes the well-being of all the individuals involved while facilitating addiction recovery. Caring for people with addiction can be frustrating and tiring. We offer caregiver support to keep caregivers and the family content and aware so they can be the companion their loved ones need for a long-term recovery.

Drug Addiction Treatment Methods

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is used to help them identify self-defeating thoughts/feelings and behaviors that may contribute to a relapse. This form of therapy is also useful in treating co-occurring conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and personality disorders. It promotes positive thinking, healthy coping strategies, stress, and craving management techniques for drug addiction.

Biofeedback: During biofeedback therapy, electronic sensors are placed on a patient’s skin to provide medical professionals with an accurate read on an individual’s “bio” signs. On-site biofeedback therapy sessions typically last about 30 minutes to an hour and are designed to provide recovering addicts with a psychological edge to beat their addictions.

Holistic Therapy: This therapy focuses on the individual’s overall well-being, while also treating physical symptoms of withdrawal. Holistic therapies may include yoga, acupuncture, art therapy, and guided meditation.

Talk Therapy: It involves close level interaction with the counselor to deal with the problem, where the counselor interviews the addict to have an understanding of the problem and help the person recover from it.

Experiential Therapy: Experiential therapy utilizes non-traditional treatment methods to help recovering addicts overcome repressed feelings and emotions that may have contributed to their addiction. Common types of this therapy include role-plays, music therapy, Art therapy, creative writing, dancing, or even stage performance.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET): MET is used to help individuals in addiction recovery learn to change their thoughts and behaviors attached to their addiction. This type of therapy is frequently used to treat recovering addicts who have co-occurring conditions, such as bipolar or eating disorders.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): During DBT, severe mental illnesses are treated in conjunction with an addiction problem. This therapy aims to improve self-esteem, encourage recovering addicts to remove triggers from their life, and provides skills to manage stress.

Medicine for Drug Addiction: Medications can be extremely effective in helping patients to safely stop abusing drugs and alcohol. They might address the changes in the brain that occur due to chronic drug abuse or help mitigate cravings. In some cases, they might even mimic the action of the addictive drug in the brain and help patients to avoid the bulk of withdrawal symptoms.

Cadabams’ drug addiction treatment boasts strong medication management from top addiction psychiatrists to address the physical aspects of addiction like craving management and coping with withdrawal. Doctors at Cadabams – including the Psychiatrists and Physicians – provide the necessary medication to slow down the withdrawal symptoms and increase the functioning of the person with drug addiction.

Dealing with The Triggers

Fighting drug addiction is tricky as certain social scenarios or emotions could act as a trigger and resurface the urge to consume drugs. Identifying the drug use triggers and chalking a detailed plan to work around the urge to consume is essential.

Chronic drug abuse changes the function of the brain, and any incident, emotion, or social factor can trigger drug cravings within the brain. It’s very important for those in treatment, especially those treated at an inpatient facility, to learn to figure out these triggers, recognize, avoid, and learn to cope with them which they are likely to be exposed to after treatment.

It is essential that a patient speaks to a certified counselor to understand their triggers and plan a way around them when the situation presents itself. The most common triggers for drug use are:

Being angry, hungry, lonely, or tired: If you are in the early stages of being clean, ensure that there are no scenarios where you are extremely hungry, lonely, tired, or angry. For a patient to overcome this, they will have to stick to a strict sleep schedule, workout regime, and plan their work schedules.

Stress: Stress is also a factor that contributes in the same way. The stress that one goes through after losing a job, or a loved one, or a house can be strong enough to put a patient to relapse. Understanding the cause of drug abuse and working your way around it is the only way out. In severe cases of drug and alcohol abuse, getting out of it may be impossible without seeking drug addiction rehab treatment. At Cadabams, we recognize how extreme stress and improper stress management techniques may contribute to psychological illness and hence provide world-class stress management therapies.

Emotions like Anger, heartbreak, and sadness: These emotions often trigger the recovering patient to relapse. It’s imperative to find a way to work their way around them with alternative solutions that can help divert the brain’s focus from the urge to get high as a solution.

Social settings where the substance is freely available: Patients recovering from drug abuse are advised not to date anyone for at least a year as new relationships require frequent public meetings at places like Pubs and Bars where it becomes difficult for the person who is recovering to control the urge. Adding to that, if a relationship breaks, the emotional trauma could be powerful enough to relapse.

Overconfidence and complacency: This is the most dangerous of all. Oftentimes, in the journey of being clean, when things start coming back to order and things look normal, patients become overconfident and intentionally start putting themselves in risky situations stating that they are in control of themselves. However, it is imperative to understand and acknowledge the fact that you have come a long way, and to keep it that way, avoiding trigger elements is of paramount importance.

Medications: Certain medications for physical pains and mental conditions can trigger relapse in recovering patients. If you are recovering, it is crucial to keep your doctor informed about this, thus enabling him/her to prescribe alternative medications that do not act as a trigger.

Nostalgia: Glorifying the good old days of drug abuse can be a powerful trigger. Active efforts should be made to recognize the earlier phase as a deteriorating condition and not euphoria.

Drug addiction can be treated but it’s not simple. Because addiction is a chronic disease, people can’t simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients need long-term or repeated care to stop using completely and recover their lives. Proper drug addiction treatment from a mental health professional will help the person do the following:

•        Stop using drugs
•        Stay drug-free
•        Be productive in the family, at work, and in society

Decided to Make A Change: How to Prime Your Mindset?

Studies show that 80-90% of patients who quit substance abuse get back to using drugs within one year of the last intoxication. This can be beaten by a combination of seeking drug abuse treatment, exercise, working on mindset, and a healthy diet. While just one of these will not do the trick, the combination is proven in doing wonders in terms of progress.

Also, it has been observed that people who do not have high self-control and succumb to substance abuse tend to exhibit a common trait known as ‘delayed discounting’. In this, users are willing to neglect the long-term effects of substance abuse for the immediate endorphin high they can experience on an immediate basis.

However, there is a certain time gap between the urge and the action (consuming drugs), and this time can be used to beat the urge with cognitive thinking and mindfulness.

Dealing with Drug Cravings

Cravings are normal when you are trying to overcome a drug addiction problem. However, dealing with those cravings and not slipping back to substance use is of paramount importance. There are multiple ways of dealing with drug cravings. It is recommended to consult your physician and draft a plan that is tailor-made for you to prevent relapse.

Here are a few methods one can try to beat the urge:

Making a list: When the urge hits, it becomes difficult for the recovering patient to see beyond the urge and the need for an immediate high. In times like this, it is essential to remind yourself why you chose to quit drugs and reaffirm your mind on the negatives and positives of relapsing again. Take the time to prepare a list of strong and honest motivating factors you could tell yourself when you would experience an urge. This will help you ride past the urge way and avoid a relapse.

Take self-care seriously: Self-care in the form of meditation, yoga, a healthy diet, and regular exercise can help you in drug detoxification. These healthy routines will not only help you overcome an urge with relative ease but also help you make progress in the recommended drug rehabilitation programs.

Join a support group: Being part of a drug and alcohol treatment support group who are all undergoing treatment can be of immense support. Listening to the experiences of others and why they are struggling to remain free from drug addiction can help you understand the negative effects of drug addiction and think past the immediate urge to get high when the urge hits.

Being self-aware: As a recovering user, you are aware of your triggers, and you should ensure that you protect yourself from being present in the trigger zones that could cause you to relapse. Avoid being alone, going to pubs, or rave parties, or similar settings that could make it difficult for you to control your urges.

Drug Addiction Rehabilitation

At Cadabams, we believe in long-term recovery that focuses on complete psychosocial rehabilitation and not just symptom reduction. We offer social skills training, our hallmark service that aims at improving social interactions and communication. It helps in the overall development and management of addiction while facilitating high-levels of functioning in society. We also offer supported employment and vocational training for a full-proof recovery. Our in-house vocational training and supported employment services help in leading a normal life by learning the adequate skills to earn a livelihood. Cadabams offers a host of options through Neeraja, Anvesha, Alankrita and the BPO programs to enable people with addiction regain control over their lives.

Drug addiction treatment will help addicts adopt a lifestyle more rewarding than one filled with drugs and alcohol. Fighting drug addiction takes courage, strength, and support. Drug addiction robs you of your strength and makes you weak. Drug addiction destroys your relationships and makes you afraid and insecure. You might not feel like you deserve a better life but you do.

The best treatment option would be to seek drug rehabilitation. A residential drug addiction treatment center is probably the most effective for addicts in need of intensive focused help with their addictions. With the help of qualified professionals, Rehab provides the best support and care with various treatment programs and therapies that could help a person overcome drug addiction.

A drug rehabilitation center will help you rebuild confidence in yourself. By including friends and family members in the counseling program, you will also find the right kind of support you need both during and after your treatment. Finally, drug rehabilitation helps you find the strength it takes to overcome drug addiction. In many ways, you will become stronger than you were before drugs took control of you.

Outpatient help can help those addicts who may not be able to enter residentially and may be able to start the process of change with counseling sessions and a small amount of group work each week. A qualified professional would need to make this assessment, not the addict themselves as they may believe things are not that bad when in fact, they need to be in residential rehabilitation as soon as possible.

Dry houses, sober living homes, or sober houses are ideal for aftercare once a residential program is finished. Those who have been in ongoing recovery before also use these if they have relapsed. Sometimes a place in a sober house or sober living home for a few months is enough for an addict to get back on the road for ongoing recovery if the relapse has been arrested early enough.

The sober house, sober living home experience helps the addict return to being a productive member of society while receiving support every step of the way. While residing in such property the client is encouraged to seek voluntary work or able employment, attend regular 12 step self-help meetings, engage with a sponsor, and work the 12-step program. This is also an ideal time to face past consequences, outstanding warrants, and fines, etc., again while being supported by professionals in this field as well as peers at every step of the way.

We are aware that each patient is unique and so are their needs. This is why we take pride in our personalised drug and alcohol rehabilitation process for individuals with distinct struggles and challenges. We believe in creating a program especially for you and not fitting you into just another 12 step program. Our drug rehabilitation programs go the extra mile to aid you and your loved ones into recovery. Our inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres come fully equipped with highly qualified medical professionals who provide the utmost support and round-the-clock care.

Why Cadabams?

We use our 28+ years of expertise to ensure that you get the treatment you need and deserve. Our multispecialty team of psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, and physicians continually works with you and your family members to ensure a well-rounded and holistic drug addiction treatment. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, experienced professionals, and strong community support, we offer world-class evidence-based treatment that is fit for all stages and all types of substance use disorders. As pioneers in private behavioural healthcare services, we pride ourselves on our renowned psychotherapy,  pharmacotherapy, neurofeedback, and community-based treatment for addiction.      

Addiction is a disorder that is best combated with the support of trained professionals. Our programs help you or your loved one recover by using the top therapeutic interventions. Our high-quality and comfortable facilities, qualified mental health professionals, caregiver support plans, post-diagnostic support, post-care support, and crisis intervention ensure that all your needs are met. At Cadabams, we care for you.

To learn more about the treatment options for drug addiction call us @+919611194949

Disclaimer – We strive to treat our patients with dignity and the utmost sensitivity. We understand that addiction is a disease and that it is not a sign of weakness. The term addict or addiction is used not in a derogatory fashion but to remain relevant to user search trends. It is important to note that addiction should be referred to as ‘substance use disorder’ to better address the effects of this psychological condition.

Words like an addict, abuser, junkie, etc should be avoided as they place the blame on the individual. Instead, individuals/person/people having/with addiction should be used. In case you or a loved one are struggling with drug abuse and share a unique viewpoint on how we can improve this content for our readers, please reach out to us at info@cadabamshospitals.com.

‍Frequently Asked Questions

How effective is drug addiction treatment?

Drug addiction treatment focuses on stopping drug abuse and helping addicts recover and adopt a productive role in their family, workplace, and society. Research that tracks the progress of individuals undergoing drug addiction treatment over a certain time has shown that people who get into formalized drug addiction treatment programs have a much higher success rate when it comes to stopping using drugs, improving the social, psychological, and social aspects of their life and preventing relapses.

At the same time, the effectiveness of the treatment also depends on the individual participation, nature of the patient’s problems, appropriateness of interaction between the patient and the therapists, etc.

How long does drug addiction treatment usually last?

This depends on the individual’s progress in the drug addiction treatment program and how well they respond to it. However, it is considered that 90 days or more is necessary for residential or outpatient treatment and a minimum of 12 months for opioid addiction treatment. As people have varying rates of progress, there is no predetermined length of time for the treatment.

How quickly can drug addiction occur?

Several factors determine how quickly someone gets addicted to drug abuse. While some may get addicted after just a few doses of a drug, for others it may take very long. But, once the disorder develops, it can lead to lifelong adverse consequences.

Is drug addiction treatable?

Yes, drug addiction is treatable. Like many chronic diseases like asthma or heart diseases, drug addiction can be managed to enable people to take control of their behavior and lead fulfilling lives.

Which is the right treatment for you?

There are a lot of ways in which one could look at drug abuse and treatment; it is essential to know that the journey will be long, but the results after the journey are fruitful. Consulting a medical practitioner or a certified therapist to discuss the problem and discuss the next steps is the first step.

How can family help?

The role of a family and its support in a patient’s life is very important. The patient should be aware that the family harbors no ill thoughts towards his actions towards addiction and wishes to see him recover. The members of the family could attend social gatherings with the patient, attend self-help groups, visit them regularly in partial or complete in-house treatments.

It is seen that the chances of relapse are significantly lesser in patients who have a good relationship with their immediate family members.